Abstract
Background: Speech restructuring is an efficacious method for the alleviation of stuttered speech. However, post‐treatment relapse is common.
Aims: To investigate whether the use of video self‐modelling using restructured stutter‐free speech reduces stuttering in adults who had learnt a speech‐restructuring technique and subsequently relapsed.
Methods & Procedures: Participants were twelve adults who had previously had speech‐restructuring treatment for stuttering and relapsed. They were video recorded for 1 hour within the clinic, practising their speech‐restructuring technique. The videos were then edited to remove all observable stuttering. Participants then viewed the resulting video of themselves using restructured stutter‐free speech each day for 1 month and were instructed to speak as they did on the video. Beyond‐clinic speech samples and self‐report severity data were collected before and after the intervention.
Outcomes & Results: Very large effect sizes were found. The mean per cent syllables stuttered was 7.7 pre‐intervention and 2.3 post‐intervention. For all but one participant there was a reduction in stuttering from pre‐intervention to post‐intervention. These results were verified with self‐report data. Speech naturalness was not compromised by the video self‐modelling procedure.
Conclusion & Implications: Video self‐modelling as a relapse management tool does not involve excessive time expenditure by the clinician or the client. The study indicates video self‐modelling is potentially useful for managing relapse after speech‐restructuring treatment for stuttering, and in some cases may be a stand‐alone procedure to manage relapse. Phase II and III trials are warranted to determine the size and duration of the effect. It is suggested video self‐modelling could also be included in a relapse management plan.